Financial Wellness
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WWP invests in best-in-class organizations to complement its programs and services and build a collaborative support network. This work is vital to building robust and resilient veteran families and communities.
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hours of in-home and local care provided to the most catastrophically injured warriors, helping them live more independent lives for as long as possible
of warriors need aid and assistance from another person due to service-connected injuries or health problems and need an average of 55 hours of care per week
Through its Independence Program, WWP provides long-term support for warriors with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and neurological conditions — injuries that often leave these warriors needing help from caregivers daily.
Josh not only began meeting veterans who understood his struggles and could share stories of recovery, he’s also gotten active in ways he never thought he could.
Josh Sommers was only four months into his 2010 deployment to Afghanistan when he was severely wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade. Upon waking up after eight months in a coma, doctors told Josh he would never walk or talk again.
Read Philip's story
career coaching services provided, resulting in 1,500+ warriors and family members achieving employment
indicate not having enough money to make ends meet at some point in last 12 months
WWP supports warriors and their families in building a foundation of financial wellness through employment readiness and placement, education and receipt of earned benefits, emergency financial assistance, improved financial management skills, and care for their overall mental well-being.
With everything else going on, working on a financial plan seemed irrelevant, but Philip knew it was time to do something different. He wanted to get sober and change his future.
Financial wellness was just one of the things warrior Philip Krabbe struggled with when he got out of the military. While a Marine platoon sergeant in Iraq, a roadside bomb killed two members of his platoon and an interpreter. Philip returned home with survivor’s guilt and other invisible wounds.
WWP Women Warriors join together to advocate at the 2023 Women Warriors Summit in Washington, DC
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During the week of September 18, more than 50 WWP women warriors from across the country traveled to Washington, DC, to participate in the 2023 Women Warriors Summit. The summit was an opportunity for women warriors to connect with fellow veterans and meet with key government leaders to advocate for legislation to improve the lives of our nation’s women veterans.
Using warriors’ feedback and insights, we advocate for veteran policies and initiatives that make a real difference, improving the lives of millions of veterans, family members, and caregivers.
Read Beth's story
experienced an improvement in quality of sleep
experienced a reduction in pain
of warriors self-reported sleep problems
of warriors report moderate or severe pain
WWP empowers warriors to adopt healthier lifestyles by providing nutritional education and coaching and helping them along their path to fitness with group physical activities, adaptive sports, goal setting, and skill building.
Beth also began to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. She fell into depression and struggled to leave her house. But after nearly four years of not being physically active, she decided in 2016 that it was up to her to make the most of her new situation, so she took up cycling to build her strength. Two years later, she participated in her first Soldier Ride, which changed her world. “It was the first time I had done anything independently since my injury,” says Beth.
In 2011, while deployed to Afghanistan, Beth’s helicopter took a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade. Beth fell out of the hatch and dangled in the air from her backstrap until the pilots could make a hard landing. Because she had no visible wounds, she was sent back out on another flight just four days later. “I felt devastated, and I asked for help,” says Beth. “But the military is mission-driven, so if you looked like you could work, you worked.”
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hours of treatment provided for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use disorder, and military sexual trauma
of warriors experienced fewer PTSD symptoms after receiving treatment through Warrior Care Network®
of warriors report experiencing PTSD as a result of their service
WWP knows that many wounds are invisible and can arise years after service. We help warriors, their families, and caregivers improve mental and emotional wellness, which enhances their quality of life, increases resilience, and puts them in a position to thrive.
His first breakthrough came during a multi-day mental health workshop called Project Odyssey®. ‘‘Engaging with other wounded service members who understood how I felt without saying a word was comforting and enlightening,’’ says Bill. ‘‘I realized if other warriors could learn to live with and control their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), then so can I.’’ Bill also made significant progress thanks to Warrior Care Network.
When Bill Geiger returned to civilian life after two deployments with the United States Army, he was a changed man. His service in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Camp Bucca, Iraq, guarding high-value detainees, deteriorated the formerly vibrant man his wife, Sara, once knew. ‘‘I knew something was wrong the first time I hugged him after coming back,’’ says Sara. ‘‘His joy for life was gone, replaced by a depressed, anxious, shorttempered recluse.’’ Then one day, Bill saw an email Sara had left open on their computer; it was to their pastor and said, in part: ‘‘If I had known Bill was going to be like this, I never would have married him.’’ Bill finally surrendered. ‘‘I wasn’t going to lose my wife,’’ says Bill. ‘‘I knew I needed help to learn how to fix this thing.’’
Read Tim's story
said they feel socially connected to their peers after participating in Alumni Connection Program events
virtual and in-person events
of warriors report that they often feel isolated
Through the Alumni Connection Program events, WWP helps wounded warriors, their families, and caregivers build stronger support networks, and enhances their mental wellness by engaging them in social events, support groups, and other opportunities to connect with each other in their communities.
At another event, he learned about Warrior Care Network and soon began receiving treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder and TBI. “It was life-changing.” says Tim. For him, one of the most uncomfortable parts of the program — having to do things that took him out of his comfort zone — ended up being one of the most rewarding.
Tim Aponte loved serving in the U.S. Army. “You had total strangers banding together, willing to watch each other’s backs,” says Tim. “It was something I would never trade for anything else.” Then, just 53 days before he was scheduled to return home, a rocketpropelled grenade exploded near him, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), internal shrapnel injuries, and a broken back. Tim struggled as much with the loss of camaraderie as he did with the painful recovery from his injuries. Instead of feeling at home, he felt alone and fell into a downward spiral. He ended up homeless, living in a shelter, and considering taking his own life.
Warrior Story: Tim Aponte
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